US blacklists more companies over Iran nuclear programme

The US Thursday announced it was expanding sanctions against more companies and individuals accused of supporting Tehran’s nuclear programme. It comes despite the landmark nuclear deal reached with Iran in Geneva last month.

Washington has issued new sanctions against more than a dozen companies and individuals for supporting Iran’s nuclear programme, US government officials announced on Thursday.

The move comes despite the landmark agreement reached in Geneva last month that saw Tehran agree to curb its nuclear development in exchange for limited sanction relief.

Treasury and State Department officials said Thursday’s decision to impose new sanctions shows that the Geneva deal “does not, and will not, interfere with our continued efforts to expose and disrupt those supporting Iran’s nuclear programme or seeking to evade our sanctions”.

The new sanctions include freezing the assets and banning transactions of entities the US says are involved in the proliferation of material used for making weapons of mass destruction and who are attempting to evade current sanctions.

"Today's actions should be a stark reminder to businesses, banks and brokers everywhere that we will continue relentlessly to enforce our sanctions, even as we explore the possibility of a long-term, comprehensive resolution of our concerns with Iran's nuclear program," said David Cohen, Treasury under secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.